MAGNOLIA – The SAU Softball team, the 12th-ranked team in the country, make the trip up to Oklahoma for the first time this season when they make the trip up to Ada to face East Central in a three-game conference series.
The Muleriders are 6-3 on the season and 3-2 in conference play. They split a double-header with Arkansas-Monticello and took two of three games against Ouachita Baptist.
The Tigers are 8-8 on the season and 4-6 in conference play. In the GAC, they were swept by Arkansas Tech, then swept Northwestern Oklahoma. They then dropped a game against Southeastern and took one of three against Oklahoma Baptist.
As a team, the Tigers lead the conference in home runs (15) and stolen bases (51). They have four players batting over .300 on the season, led by Tatiana Bryant's .385 average. They also have three players with three home runs and four players with five or more stolen bases.
In the circle, the Tigers are second in the conference with 106 strikeouts. The pitching staff has a 3.85 ERA and have an opponent batting average of .273. They are led by Taia Harris with a 2.43 ERA and 30 strikeouts and Lauren HerrNacker with a 3.08 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
The Muleriders are hitting .290 on the season, having hit 11 homeruns in nine games. They have a conference-best .412 on-base percentage. The Muleriders have five players hitting over .300 –
Sarah Evans (.381),
Laina Suesue (.367),
Christina Hill (.357),
Faith Otts (.320) and
Jaxynn Dyson (.304).
Victoria Taylor and
Sydney Wader lead the Mulerider effort inside the circle. The duo account for 45.1 innings pitched this season, combining for 51 strikeouts. The pitching staff for the Muleriders has a conference-best opponent batting average of .230.
Some notable milestones to look at for the Muleriders:
- Faith Otts is 11 hits away from becoming the fifth Mulerider to record 200 career hits
- Victoria Taylor is three wins away from tying Michelle Sorenson for most wins by a GAC pitcher all-time with 75
- Taylor, who is on 658 career strikeouts, is only three away from tying Jalissa Gum for third in GAC history for strikeouts – she sits 104 back of Sorenson for tying the record for most strikeouts
- Taylor's next shutout will break a tie with Sorenson for most shutouts in GAC history (currently tied with 22)
Following this weekend series, the Muleriders have a midweek doubleheader in Commerce against #2 Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday before they host Southeastern Oklahoma next weekend.
